Over the historic Buckingham Palace, the Royal Air Force had the honour of flying a selection of aircraft to celebrate the Official Birthday of His Majesty King Charles III.
At 13:00, thirty-one aircraft took to the skies above the crowds on The Mall and over Buckingham Palace, watched over by Their Majesties’ The King and Queen, alongside other members of the Royal family.
The formation was led by three Chinook helicopters from three Front Line Chinook Squadrons -18, 27 & 7 Squadrons of RAF Odiham, following The King’s Birthday Parade (Trooping the Colour).
All of the aircraft derive from eight different RAF stations across the United Kingdom.
It is an incredible privilege for the Royal Air Force to be part of His Majesty The King’s Birthday celebrations, where the Flypast is an opportunity to honour His Majesty The King, our Commander-in-Chief, on the occasion of his official Birthday.
Air Vice-Marshal Jackson
Air Officer Commanding No 1 Group
The aircraft, whose main purpose is to secure our skies and contribute to protecting our citizens and interests at home and abroad have a broad range of uses. These include training, air transport, lift capabilities, air-to-air refuelling, maritime, humanitarian missions and fast jet combat.
The King's Birthday Flypast composition also acknowledges numerous other contributions to Ops from all Forces and Air Wings. Recent Ops include Op CHESSMAN (Typhoon), Op EASTERN SENTRY (Typhoon & Voyager), Op SILVER JAVELIN (Poseidon support to Maritime security), Op SHADER (continued support in the middle east) and Op SYNERGISE (A400M supporting FCDO-led airlift of persons from Israel). The A400M has recently been involved in helping to parachute an Army specialist team onto Tristan da Cunha to deliver critical medical support during the recent Hantavirus outbreak. This is one of the few times that the UK military has despatched medical teams to provide humanitarian aid via a parachute jump.
2026 marks forty-five years of Chinook service with the RAF. It’s a huge honour for everyone from RAF Odiham and the Chinook Force, 27 Sqn, and for me personally to be at the front of Windsor Formation and the first aircraft over the Palace.
Squadron Leader Mooney,
2IC, 27 Sqn
A Dakota from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, RAF Coningsby followed the Chinooks. Mission Commander, Wing Commander Hart, Officer Commanding 29 Squadron had the task of overseeing the whole flypast. The planning for the whole event has been meticulous over many months. The culmination is the spectacle that was seen by millions of people worldwide.
It is a huge honour to be the Mission Commander for His Majesty The King’s Birthday Flypast where we will showcase an impressive array of aircraft that have been employed on Operations across the globe in recent months and years. Agile, integrated and ready to fly and fight, from the support personnel all the way to those in the air, I have been humbled by everyone’s professionalism and pride in bringing the spectacle to life.
Wing Commander Hart
Mission Commander & Officer Commanding 29 Squadron
Other aircraft in the formation included a Rivet Joint, Typhoon, an F35 and a C17 Globemaster. 2026 is a significant milestone for some of the squadrons who flew today. 3(F) Sqn based at RAF Coningsby celebrated its 115th anniversary. 51 Sqn from RAF Waddington has amassed 110 years of impeccable service to the country and proudly flew the Rivet Joint over Buckingham Palace. And the F35s from RAF Marham flew courtesy of 207 Sqn which also celebrates 110 years of loyal service.
The event culminated in a spectacular show of red, white and blue from the pilots of the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows. Tucked in behind them were four F35s.
Having had the privilege of three Birthday flypasts, all I can say is, don’t they fly by! There hasn’t been a year where we haven’t started our run in from the North Sea and before you know it, you’re over the mall. If you’re not quick, you’ll have missed seeing the Palace and His Majesty passing beneath the cockpit windows. It’s been an immense honour to have flown the flypast for the past three years, in both the co-pilot and captains’ roles. Having the F-35’s on the wing in 2025 was an even more special moment for us too. Taking such a large and heavy aircraft like the C17 so low over the centre of London is an incredible experience and one that I’ve yet to rival.
Wishing His Majesty a very Happy Birthday!
Flt Lt Osbiston
Pilot, C17.
The aircraft of the Armed Forces have a long and proud history of taking part in this occasion, with the first King’s Birthday Flypast taking place in 1913. More recently it formed part of Their Majesties’ Coronation in 2023 and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022.
As Project Officer for the King’s Birthday flypast, I have the privilege of overseeing the coordination and delivery of one of the RAF’s most visible events. Planning began in November last year to assemble and sequence thirty one aircraft over Buckingham Palace, requiring precise timing, collaboration, and attention to detail across multiple platforms, Stations and other Government Departments. It is a great honour to play a role in such a complex and symbolic occasion, showcasing the professionalism of the Armed Forces on the national and world stage.
Flight Lieutenant Day
King’s Birthday Flypast Project Officer
The King’s Birthday Flypast concluded Trooping the Colour which took place on Horse Guards Parade, a ceremony dating back to the reign of King Charles II, becoming an annual event in 1760. Over 1,400 officers and soldiers formed the parade, together with two hundred horses; over four hundred musicians from ten bands and Corps of Drums marched and played in unison.